Allahabad HC Clears Path for Mathura Temple-Mosque Trials, Dismisses Muslim Side’s Plea

Mathura: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday delivered a significant ruling in the long-standing Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute. The court dismissed a plea filed by the mosque committee challenging the maintainability of 18 lawsuits seeking the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, paving the way for the trial to proceed.

The Hindu litigants claim that the mosque, built during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, was constructed after demolishing a Krishna temple on the site.

However, the mosque management committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board had argued that the lawsuits were barred under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which protects the religious character of places of worship as it existed on Independence Day, 1947.

Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, who had reserved judgement on the matter on June 6, has scheduled August 12 for framing of issues in the case.